Article

OBJECTIVE: To describe cognition among individuals with new amputations at 3 time
points: presurgical, 6 weeks postamputation, and 4 months postamputation. DESIGN:
Prospective cohort. SETTING: Medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Referred sample
Veterans who were primarily men (N=80) experiencing their first lower extremity
amputation as a result of complications of diabetes mellitus or peripheral
arterial disease. Patients were screened for the absence of gross cognitive
impairment using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Of those
87 individuals who were eligible, 64% enrolled; 29 were enrolled presurgically
and have cognitive data for all 3 time points, and 58 were enrolled
postamputation. Eighty of the 87 individuals enrolled by 6 weeks remained
enrolled at 4 months. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Demographic and general health information, general mental status (SPMSQ), and 4
brief, well-established neuropsychological measures. RESULTS: Most mean
neuropsychological test scores fell in the low average or average range. For most
participants, overall cognitive status improved from pre- to postsurgery and then
remained stable between 6 weeks and 4 months. There were significant improvements
between pre- and postsurgical test scores in verbal learning and memory, and
these remained unchanged between 6 weeks and 4 months. Better 4 month cognitive
performance was associated with higher perceived general health. CONCLUSIONS:
Overall cognitive performance is poorest presurgically. Though there is
improvement between pre- and postamputation, cognition appears generally stable
between 6 weeks and 4 months.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS